Flying Taxi Ports

 Future Airplanes  Comments Off on Flying Taxi Ports
Mar 062021
 

Urban Air Port Air-One

For years, science fiction has played a role in inspiring the development of new and improved technological ideas. However, some ideas have often felt like something far off in the future in terms of realistic possibility including flying cars. However, the world-first electric Urban Air Port which has won UK Government backing might be about to change all of this. This exciting new idea will open up in the UK after winning the government backing and approval needed to take operations further.

Air Port Air-One is a mixture between a trio of groups – Hyundai, Urban Air Port, and Coventry City Council. They have won the agreement from the UK Government’s Future Flight Challenge to create an aviation system that would better work for the next generation of electric and automated vehicles. Given we are only years away from the development of a whole new kind of motor industry, such innovations as this can only be good for public progress moving forward.

The hope is that Air-One will be launched in 2021 and will be close to the high-traffic area of the city that includes the Ricoh Arena. This will be the first-ever fully operational hub for future electronic vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. This will include the use of automated drones but also the use of things like air taxis, which are becoming an idea taken direct from most popular sci-fi movies and writings.

While the concept might still seem strange to some, this is a movement that is taking place with 100% government backing. The UK Government has long been under pressure to make more moves into the use of modernized forms of transport and automation. The agreement to back this project, then, looks like proof that such pressure has worked.

Why are flying taxi ports becoming a part of the UK?

The main reason why this has taken place in the United Kingdom is that there was already the London-based Urban Air Port group to work with. Already experienced and in the process of developing such a system themselves, Hyundai was seen as the ideal partner for both groups. This allows for an easier, more effective growth of a new market in the UK whilst being overseen by a team of already-present professionals.

Hyundai, too, is excited about the potential for development of its own eVTOL aircraft in the years to come, as well. This would provide them with the chance to create a commercialized system that could be used within the UK by 2028. By helping to lay the groundwork for an industry they already intend to step into, Hyundai is helping to both prove the market exists and that it can be successful through smart moves.

Flying taxi ports might seem like an idea draped in science fiction tropes. Yet, as has been shown in the developments taking place in Coventry, such changes are not only possible, but they are plausible. While the ideas might not be unique, their implementation in a real-world scenario almost certainly is.

 

 Posted by at 8:46 am
Feb 182011
 

Now this is not H.R. Pufnstuf but rather the NASA Puffin that is a futuristic personal one-man aircraft that is “too school for cool.” Actually it is pretty cool and has nothing to do with Pink.

This one person aircraft is pretty green as it is all electric and has much farther range (about 50 miles) than a jetpack powered by hydrogen peroxide which may get you a mile if you’re lucky. No, the NASA Puffin (presumably named after the cool weather bird that flies fairly low above the sea) has two propellers, and takes off and lands with four stabilizers.

The NASA Puffin has a top speed of around 290 mph and a cruising speed of about half that much. It’s made of carbon fiber so it comes in at a svelte 190 kg including the rechargeable lithium phosphate batteries.

The NASA Puffin is not restricted by the amount of oxygen at altitude since it is all electric. The downside like most electric vehicles is its range. I hydrogen fuel cell would do wonders for alleviating this dilemma.

If you’ve ever dreamed about flying above congested freeways or jammed streets in town, then the NASA Puffin gives a glimpse of what the future of personal airplanes will be like. This leading edge aircraft may actually be too cool for school.

NASA Puffin

Feb 102011
 

This is a picture page of future airplanes. Of course future airplanes will come in many varieties from commercial to military to leisure aircraft. The pictures, photos and images on this page of future airplanes represent all three varieties.

The propulsion methods of these future planes will be of a great variety including JP-8 jet fuel mixtures especially with biofuels, hydrogen, hydrogen peroxide, plug-in battery electric hybrids, multi-fuel hybrids, magnetic energy, nuclear and those carrying plasma reactors.

This just gives a glimpse of what future airplanes will look like in the years ahead. Of course, there will be must development between now and 5, 10, 20 or 50 years in the future so we’ll just have to wait and see what the scientists and engineers of tomorrow offer.

NASA Supersonic Green Machine

NASA Supersonic Green Machine

This is a NASA concept supersonic aircraft that uses green fuel and is manufactured with little or no carbon footprint.

Future Travel

Future Commercial Travel

The concept behind these future planes is that the large one will circle the earth above many large cities and the smaller airplane will deplane the passengers in the sky then shuttle them to the airports saving time and fuel.

NASA Blended Wing Airplane

NASA Blended Wing Airplane Concept

The NASA Blended-Wing-Body aircraft concept co-developed with the help of UC Irvine, CA shows how design in the future will help reduce fuel consumption.

NASA Futuristic Planes

NASA Futuristic Planes

Now, this may be a stretch given current technology and a bit on the science fiction edge for some tastes, but this is what NASA is predicting are travel will look like within the next 50 years. Could happen.

Mars Airplane

Mars Airplane

To take NASA’s future vision one step farther, this is the depiction of what an airplane will look like on Mars. Of course, this most likely would be categorized as a spacecraft but they are calling it an airplane so I will do so as well.

These future airplane pictures, images and photos represent a small sample of what the years ahead have in store for us. The pictures of future airplanes are based upon current and emerging technology. This is not science fiction but rather projections and predictions based upon what we know today to be true.

For more detailed info see the future airplanes section of this website and see what is in store in just a few short years.

Credits: NASA, Boeing, UC Irvine